Method of finishing sheet-metal tiling



Dec. 10, 1929. e. L. BENNETT METHOD OF FINISHING SHEET METAL TILING Filed Sept. 15, 1928 INVENTOR 4 w v v ATTORNEY. I

Patented Dec. 10, 1929 1 1,739,056

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE L. BENNETT, F CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO METHOD OF FINISHING SHEET-METAL TILING Application filed September 15, 1928. Serial No. 806,161.

The invention relates to a method of finish- With such tiling it is impossible to bend ing sheet metal tiling, and more particularly same Without disrupting the enamel surface. to a method of finishing the edges of large Consequently, fitting requiring variation in sheets of tiling when producing, or when fithe dimensions of the sheet, and at times, at

5 ting same to a wall space, so as to permit adan angle of a room, necessitates the cutting 01? 55 j scent sheets to be accurately fitted when h heet and, as in producing the sheets, mounting them upon the wall of aroom while blemishes adjacent the edge of a sheet and preserving continuity of the vitreous enamel Conditions resulting in erosion of the metal at surface and avoiding subsequent deteriorat e edge must be avoided.

tion of the metal at the butt joints between Therefore, in cutting and fitting sheets, on such sheets through erosion of the metal such sheets should have the same edge finish which would result in possible discoloration s when producing sheets of standard size. at the joint, or the breaking down of the bond I rimming or cutting sheet metal tiling between the enamel and the metal sheet, and ving a decorative surface of vitreous consequent chipping of the enamel. enamel, the various tools and implements She t metal tilin f th character ith commonly used in the cutting of sheet metal a which the meth d of my i v nti i t h cannot be resorted to, because such tools and used, consists of ordinary thin gauge rolled mplements will chip the enamel from the surmetal, such as steel, having a vitreous enamel face jacent the cut and thus produce b1em- 20 applied to at least that face thereof to be ex ishes in the finish along abutting edges of posed within a room, th finished fa of th adjoining sheets. Furthermore, if such methsheet being provided with a d ign or b ing ods are resorted to, the edge of the metal in continuous color, a d ir d, sheet is subject to erosion from oxidation 01" These sheets are of a l ngth to ext nd s bother causes, which in time extends beneath 25 stan'tially between the ceiling of a ro nd the enamel surface and destroys the bond hethe floor, and are secured in place in any detw en the enamel and the sheet metal.

sired manner. The detailed construction of With the above conditions in mind, I have such tiling sheets and the manner of mount devised a method of finishing vitreous enamel ing same forms no part of the present invencoated sheet metal tiling by which any desired 30 tion, which is applicable to the finishing opportion adjacent the edge of a tiling sheet may 30 eration of such sheets irrespective of such debe parated from the body of the sheet withtails. out chipping or otherwise mutilating the In the enamel surfacing of sheet metal, decorated face of the sheet, and then so prothere is, during the baking operation, a tecting the edge of the metal at the cut as to 5 shrinkage of the enamel away from the oppopreclude possibility of erosion affecting the site edges of the sheet, or adjacent the sharp metal at the line of joinder between same and edge of the metal; This shrinkage is sufiicient the enamel surfacing. to produce defects in the enamel surface along By the method of my invention. sharp clean this edge, and present blemishes at the meetedges of the tiling sheets are assured, and

40 ing lines of different sheets. It is impossible he healing or protecting medium at the edge to correct this condition by enamelling the is such as to avoid the presence of any appreedges of the sheet, since the enamel will shrink ciable seam along the abutting edges of adaway fromthe sharp edge of the metal, and joining tiling sheets as a result of the presence a curvature at this point will prevent a close of the material used for thus healing the edge.

45 fitting of adjoining tiling sheets. The invention consists primarily in a meth- Furthermore, while such tile sheets may be 0d of finishing sheet metal tiling, embodying made to standard dimensions, there is always therein the separation of one portion of an a necessity for cutting and fitting such sheets enamel coated metal sheet from another porin adapting them to rooms of different dimention thereof by abrasion, and subsequently sions, to angles in a room and about openings. coating the exposed edge of the body of the N1 sheet with a non-corrosive material; and in such other novel steps and practices, as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate in side elevations, front elevation and in plan the step of separating a vitreous enamel coated metal tiling sheet;

Figs. 4 and 5 show in side elevation and in plan the healing of the cut resulting from the first step of the method; and

Fig. 6 shows in section a fragmentary portion of one edge of the finished sheet.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, one portion of the vitreouscoated sheet metal tile strip is shown at a, and the portion thereof to be removed, at a. In order to separate the portion a from the portion a, I make a line of division between the part a and the part a by abrasion, utilizing some tool such as an emery or carborundum wheel which will effectively cut the vitreous enamel surface I) of the sheet as well as the metal portion 0 thereof, without chipping or cracking the enamel. The cut is at substantially right angles to the surface of the sheet so as to produce a fiat surface at the edge which will squarely abut against a similar surface upon.

an adjoining tiling sheet, in mounting same upon a wall.

lVhen the part a has been thus separated from the part a of the tiling sheet, I apply a protective surfacing d, of non-corrosive material, to this edge to prevent erosion, particularly the line of junction between the metal portion of the sheet and its enamelled surface. This protecting coating or healing medium for the cut is preferably a thin coating of solder applied to the edge of the sheet following the application of a suitable flux.

In order to simplify the healing step and secure greater uniformity, I preferably employ a mechanism such as is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, by which, with a continuing movement of the sheet, every portion thereof is successively brought into engaging relation with a device for applying the flux thereto, and with a soldering wheel immersed in molten solder and brought to the desired temperature.

While the solder will readily adhere to, and form a protective coating for, the edge of the metal portion of the sheet, it will not adhere to the enamel surfacing. Nor will the temperature at which the solder is applied have any elfect upon this enamel surfacing.

IVhile the tools employed in carrying on the method are immaterial thereto, I have shown certain tools and appliances in the accompanying drawings and will describe same herein. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, I employ a narrow abrasive wheel 6, driven at high speed by a motor f and carried by a channelled base 9, the sides of which are adapted to engage the opposite sides of a straight edge h, which, after being, laid upon the portion a of the sheet, is secured to a bench 2' having a slot 2" therein. The portion a rests upon this bench and extends across said slot i. The straight edge is secured to the bench in a position to bring the abrasive wheel e in the proper position in relation to a selected line of severance between the portions a-a of the sheet. The base 9 is provided with a gauge finger g which may be alined with a gauge marking (1 upon the tiling sheet.

In Figs. 4'and 5 I have shown a,desirable form of device for applying the non-corrosive facing to the cut edge of the portion a. This consists of a tank j for flux, having therein a flanged roller 3'. Adjacent this tank is a solder pot is, having a flanged roller is to pick up solder from the pot is and carry it to a point of application to the edge ofthe sheet portion a. Adjacent the pot k and the roller it" is a suitable heating device 10 directing the flame against the pot I: and the roller so as to maintain these at the desired temperature.

The tank j and the pot is and their appurtenances are supported by a bench m.

In producing enamel surface tiling sheets of standard dimensions, it is necessary to trim only the side edges of the sheet, since ordinarily the trim of the room will cover the end edges. If desired, however, each sheet may be trimmed about all edges.

In the finishing operation, the tiling sheet is secured in position, and the abrading wheel (2 is used to remove a narrow width of the sheet at the line of demarcation of the portion a and the portion a thereof, the action of the wheel being not only to grind away the metal and its enamel surface, but to produce a ground finish at the edge of the portion a. The abrasive action of said wheel will not chip the vitreous enamel so that upon the removal of the portion a, the decoration afforded by the enamel surfacing b will extend to the very edge of the sheet without blemishes of any kind due to shrinkage of the enamel in baking or to the cutting of the portion a from the sheet. The opposite edges of the sheet will be similarly trimmed, and, if desired, the end edges may also be trimmed, although as stated this is unnecessary if the trim of the room is such as to cover any blemishes or defects at these'edges.

After a portion a has been removed from a tiling sheet, the remaining portion a is passed edgewise in engaging relation with the rollers y" and 7c, the former of which will apply flux to the ground edge of the portion a, and the latter of which will apply solder thereto in a thin coat by reason of the pressure relation between the edge of the sheet and the roller is, which coat will be very thin but of substantially uniform thickness.

It is of primary importance to have a lamina of the solder or other non-corrosive substance upon the edge of the sheet metal 0 extend to the juncture of the surface of said sheet and the enamel surfacing b, in order to prevent erosion at the line of demarcation between said sheet 0 and said coating (Z.

straight line, so that when mounting the' sheets upon the wall of a room, the edges of each sheet will squarely abut against the edges of adjoining sheets. The decorative vitreous enamel surface will extend to the extreme edge of each sheet, since the solder coating will not be of a thickness to result in a discernible seam.

The edge of the metallic portion 0 of the tiling sheetwill be protected against erosive action of the elements after the insulation of the sheet, as a result of the healing of the cut by the solder or other non-corrosive surfacing material applied to this edge.

Vhile above I have referred more particularly to thefinishing method as applied to sheets of standard dimensions, it is obvious that the same methods may be employed in producing, from a standard size sheet, smaller or narrower sheets when such is required for the proper mounting of sheet tiling upon the walls of a room.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the particular tools or appliances used in carrying. on the method of my invention, nor to the use of solder as the healing material or edge stratum of the sheets. The mechanisms described herein are merely illustrative of tools and appliances which may be used in the expeditious practice of the inven tion.

Having described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is Y 1. A method of finishing sheet metal tiling, embodying therein the separation of one portion of an enamel coated metal sheet from another portion thereof by abrasion, and subsequently coating the exposed edge of the body of the sheet with a non-corrosive material.

2. A methodof finishing sheet metal tiling,-

embodying therein the separation of one portion of an enamel coated metal sheet from another portion thereof by abrasion, and subsequently applying a thin coating of solder to the exposed edge of the metal portion of the sheet.

3. A method of finishing sheet metal tiling, embodying therein the separation of one portion of an enamel coated metal sheet from another portion thereof by simultaneously cutting the enamel surface and the sheet metal by means of an abrading medium, whereby a flat ground finish is alsoproduced at the edges of the cut, and subsequently coating the exposed edge of the metal portion of the sheet with a non-corrosive material.

4. A method of finishing sheet metal tiling, embodying therein the separation of one portion of an enamel coated metal sheet from another portion thereof by simultaneously cutting the enamel surface and the sheet metal by means of an abrading medium, whereby a flat ground finish is also produced at the edges of the cut, and subsequently applying a thin stratum of a non-corrosive metal to the edge of the metal portion of the sheet.

A method of finishing sheet metal tiling, embodying therein the separation of one portion of an enamel coated metal sheet from another portion thereof by simultaneously euttin g the enamel surface and the sheet metal by means of an abrading medium, whereby a fiat ground finish is also produced at the edges of the cut, and subsequently applying a thin coating of solder to the edge of the metal portion of the sheet.

In witness whereof I havehereunto aflixed my signature this 12th day of September.

GEORGE L. BENNETT. 

